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AACAP is led by a group of individuals with extensive leadership experience in high school guidance and higher education.
Jennifer Christensen is a driven leader with a dynamic career built around transforming lives through education. She is a passionate advocate for developing and recognizing admissions professionals with a strong understanding of their profound impact on meeting the needs of students, families, communities, and institutions. Jen’s extensive experience in admissions, enrollment management, and training and development includes 20 years with the Apollo Education Group’s Institute for Professional Development (IPD), consulting and engagement with various training and higher education organizations such as Ruffalo Noel Levitz, Norton Norris, Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), and the National Council for Continuous Education and Training (NCCET). In addition to her role as AACAP’s Executive Director, Jen serves as the Director of Admissions Training and Development at Herzing University with responsibilities that include onboarding, professional development, career pathways, performance management, compliance, geographic expansion, and innovation in technology and system solutions. She holds an MA in Organizational Management and a BA in Communication Arts from the University of WI, Madison.
Jennifer Christensen
Executive Director
Shannon Gormley has the unique combination of experience in high school guidance counseling and for-profit and non-profit higher education. Ms. Gormley has over 17 years of experience in higher education serving as an admissions advisor, student activities director, student advisor, director of admissions, and executive director of graduate recruitment. Shannon has also worked as a director of training providing compliant and effective admissions training and coaching to thousands of admission professionals across the country and in Puerto Rico. After earning her Master’s degree in School Counseling, Shannon worked in secondary education as a school counselor, assisting students in the development of their academic, social, and career pursuits, with a focus on college and career readiness. Ms. Gormley holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling, from Lewis University and is a licensed school counselor. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Carla B. Cheatham, M.Ed, LCPC, NCC, GCDF, is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Governors State University. She received a B.S. in Journalism from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, a M.Ed. in School Counseling from Georgia State University, and an Ed.M. in Global Studies in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. She has over 25 years of experience in school counseling. She is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC- IL) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She has earned the Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) credential and the Certified School Career Development Advisor (CSCDA) credential. Ms. Cheatham’s areas of experience include Academic, Career, and Social/Emotional School Counseling, Advocacy and Social Justice, Cultural Competency, Multiculturalism, Inclusion, Diversity and Antiracist School Counseling. She has presented nationally on topics regarding antiracist school counseling, diversity, equity, and inclusion issues for school counseling. She is the immediate past president for the Illinois Association for Multicultural Counseling (IAMC).
Carla B. Cheatham
Executive Committee
Dr. Jean Norris
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Norris is an awarding-winning author and speaker advocating for the college admissions profession. In her 30+ years in higher education, Jean served in the role of admissions representative, dean of admissions, faculty member, academic dean, vice president of marketing, vice president of enrollment management, and vice president of organizational development.
Currently Jean is a managing partner at Norton|Norris, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in mystery shopping and faculty/staff training.
Jean began her own educational pursuit in a 10-month medical assisting diploma program and went on to earn a B.A. in Management from National Louis University; a M.A. in Communication and Training from Governor’s State University and an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Sarasota. Jean is also a Licensed Master Neurolinguistic Programming Practitioner.
Dr. Norris is the founder and Chairman of the Board for AACAP and also serves on the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – Illinois (JDRF).
Rachel Gordon brings over two decades of experience in higher education, with a strong focus on Enrollment Management and Financial Aid. As Chief Operating Officer at Educational Compliance Management, she leads her team to provide compliant, high-quality financial aid processing and consulting services. Rachel’s leadership and dedication to Enrollment Management is evident through her continued presentations at local, regional, and national conferences, as well as her service on scholarship committees and advisory boards. Her extensive expertise working with a diverse group of institutions is evident in her ability to streamline processes, enhance staff development, and improve overall operational efficiency. This unique background makes her an invaluable asset to any organization seeking to elevate their enrollment management and financial aid services.
Rachel Gordon
Executive Board Member
Bill Ojile
Executive Committee, Legal
Bill is Partner at Snell & Wilmer Law Office. Prior, Bill was Partner with Armstrong Teasdale and served ten years as the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer for Alta Colleges, Inc., a multi-campus private career college. Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specialization in Accounting, from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a JD from the University of Nebraska College of Law. Bill serves on several non-profit boards, including: board chairman of The Wayfaring Band, an organization dedicated to creating travel adventures for adults who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities and neuro-typical leadership fellows and as Treasurer and a board member of Rocky Mountain Human Services, an organization serving residents of the City and County who experience disabilities.
Susan Lange brings a wealth of experience at all levels of business operation and management, from chief financial officer to human resources to start-up funding and budgeting. Susan is a Certified Public Accountant with expertise in a wide variety of financial matters from, tax, financial, and estate-planning for individuals, to small and mid-sized businesses, and charitable organizations. A native of Northwest Indiana, Susan earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Management (with an accounting emphasis) from Purdue University-Calumet in Hammond and began her career as a tax professional in 2001. She received her CPA designation in 2002.
Susan serves as a board member and treasurer for Camp Manitoqua, a Christian retreat, camp and outdoor education center in Frankfort, a member of her church’s finance team and the Illinois CPA Society.
Susan Lange
Executive Board Member
Matthew Schmoker
Executive Board Member
Matthew Schmoker, Managing Partner and Founder of Legacy Admissions Solutions, has dedicated his passion and career to higher education for nearly 30 years as an award-winning enrollment management and student retention expert, educator, executive coach, and trainer, school owner, and acclaimed keynote speaker. Matt has developed an incredible track record for exceeding expectations and strengthening campuses and organizations. He has earned a reputation as a leading admissions and student retention expert by the support he and his team have provided to over 750 private and public institutions in exceeding enrollment and retention goals. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications from Central Washington University.
Andrea Lintner
Executive Board Member
Dr. KL (Shunda) McGriff
Executive Board Member
Dr. KL (Shunda) McGriff is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). She has worked as a college counselor for nearly 20 years with low-income, first-generation, and minority student populations. Prior to becoming a counselor, she had myriad student affairs positions for both universities and a for-profit/technical institution.
Shunda is passionate about multicultural and social justice topics. Her most recent research has focused on single African American women. Additionally, her areas of specialty include: advocacy, college populations, and college student retention of vulnerable populations (undocumented/DACA and African American males).
Shunda received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Arizona. She received her Master of Science in Counseling from Eastern Illinois University and her Doctorate in Counseling and Supervision from Governors State University.
In 2014, Shunda had the honor of being selected as a fellow for the prestigious National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP). This award remains one of her greatest achievements.
AACAP unifies, develops and recognizes professionals dedicated to excellence in advising students on postsecondary educational pathways that support career-readiness and lead to meaningful employment in today’s workforce. We are high school counselors, college admissions professionals and leaders driven by shared values, passion and purpose.
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is the national organization serving postsecondary career education schools, staff , and most importantly, our students! We are a voluntary membership organization that serves as the national voice for the for-profit higher education sector. Today, more than 600 campuses across the nation are represented through their school’s membership.
Our member schools provide skills-based education opportunities to nontraditional students, particularly veterans, working mothers, and parents, to help them open doors and secure employment in today’s workforce. These schools equip students with the career skills they need to succeed – from allied health and nursing, to mechanics, welding, culinary arts, cosmetology, truck driving, veterinary medicine and beyond!